Airbus and Thailand’s CATC sign training MoU

By January 31, 2019 January 16th, 2020 General News

Airbus and Thailand’s Civil Aviation Training Center (CATC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner on projects to develop and implement maintenance training and pilot training courses in the country.

Under the agreement, the pair will identify ways to deepen the co-operation in the training of aviation professionals in Thailand. Airbus has begun working with the CATC on basic maintenance training courses, which could be expanded to include additional maintenance courses as well as ab initio flight training courses for pilots.

With Airbus forecasting a demand for 220,000 new pilots, and more than 260,000 new technicians in the Asia-Pacific region over the next 20 years, the goal of the agreement is to support the development of the country’s aviation industry by helping to ensure a steady supply of pilots, engineers and mechanics for Thailand’s airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centres.

Jean-Francois Laval, executive vice-president, Asia, Airbus, said the company is pleased to sign the MoU with CATC, adding: “Thailand is an important partner for Airbus, as well as one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the region. This allows us to work together to provide the highest levels of training needed to meet the increasing need for qualified aviation professionals in the country.”

Rear Admiral Piya Atmungkun, president, Civil Aviation Training Center, said: “We are pleased to sign this MoU and deepen our strong relationship with Airbus in the areas of maintenance training and ab initio pilot training. The combination of Airbus’ world-class expertise and the CATC’s understanding of the requirements of Thailand’s aviation industry means that this has the potential to become a highly successful and long-standing partnership.”

Image: (left-right): Jean-Francois Laval, EVP, Asia, Airbus; Bruno Bousquet, VP, Customer Services, Asia Pacific; Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport; and Rear Admiral Piya Atmungkun, president of CATC.